Recent Books Priociples of General Chemistry. SruAar R. B M N K L ~ V . The ~ a c m i l l a nCo.. New York. 477 pp. 14 X 21.5 cm. $8.50. 1026. x
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The author stater in his preface t h a t "thin text is the o u t s r o r t h of several yearn' study of the problems involved in presenting the subject t o those students who have had a preparatory-' school course in chemistry." Instead of followins t h e usual cussom of treating t h e subjectmatter from the standpoint of the different elemento, the author has followed a quite different idea by classifying all substances according t o the kind of reactions which they exhibit. Por example, all of the more important acidic and basic oxides are dircussed in Chapters I1 and 111, similarly t h e different acidr and bases are brought to6ether under general headings and salts are das3ified halide.3, sulfates, nitrates, etc. This arrangement not only gives the student a new viewpoint of the ~ u b j e c t but should serve t o awaken his interest rather than t o dull it a n is so often the case. ~ o t the h structure 01 the atom =nd the periodic law are discussed in Chapter I, thus giving t h e student a t t h e outset an idea of the unity of matter and e reaxm for the principles and laws that follow. Little practical use, however, is made of the periodic law Inter in the book I t is interatins t o note t h a t such subjects as hydropen, valence, and the metals are not treated ar major topic. but are brought in an incidental t o certain principles. The book is well illustrated, is written in an interesting manner and from a standpoint t h a t clearly presupposes some general knowledge of the fundamentals of chemistry. In the opinion of the rehewer it marks a distinct advance over the time-honored method oi handling the subject-matter of general chemistry. While the book is well suited for a unified course in general chemistry its arrangement would not permit an easy correlation with qualitative analysis as in the custom in many universitie~. GBO. W.
SBARS
additions will be much appreciated by those interested in amphoteric compounds and t h e phenomena exhibited by t h e m Furthermare the "tilit,. of the original German edition has been considerably enhanced by their incluaim. As would be expected, the theoretical ride of the question precedes the practical. The chapter title. e v e only a faint idea of the r e d seope of the book. They are Neutraliration~, Amphoteric Compounds, The Color Change of Indicators, The Use of Indicator. in Quantitative Neutralizations, The Colciimetric Determinntion d Hydrosn.Ion Concentration, Practical ~ ~ p l i ~of ~the t iColorimetric ~ ~ s Determination . of Hydrogen-Ion Concenfrafion, Indicator papers, Theory of Indicators. Included in these chapters we find tables of the SBrenren, Clark and Lubr, Cohcn, and Michaelis and Gyemaot indicators covering name, trade name, concentration, PA interval a d colarchanga. Following this each indicator is di.ru..ed in detail. Here we find the structural formula, directions for use, and a statement of t h e d t error and general utility. occasionally methods of purification are given. There is an extensive diseusion of salt and protein errors, and of the effect of heat, concentration, m d alcohol on sensitivity. The tables of buffer mixture. are very complete and the d i r cussion of thQeame excellent. One wmders why t h e chapter on Theory o€ Indicators was not placed together with t h e chapter on The Color Change of Indicators. Erpcdally puzzling, however. is the omission or any discusion, or even mention, of the indicator of course this is not a very sensitive or reproducible indicator, b u t i t is so often; speciaed and used as an inmcstor in amm.,nia. titrafionr, that the inclusion of some di.eusrion' on it ~ o u l dseem t o be advisable. A t least a d f s b l e substitute should be recommended. I t is very gratifying to find an execedingly lull bibliography a t the end of each chapter. There in dsaan extensive table on the dissociation constints . and b-er with full literature . =ids . ~
rndicatOrs, the
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edition, end enlarged by N. H. Furman. John Viiley & Sons. New York City, 1926, xii + 269 pP, 23 X 14.5 Em. 63.50.
n3. Kdthoff and Furman have done a wnriderable service in so ably collcctinp. arraneng. and disev~singour knowledge of neutralization indieatom. The book should be 01 value t o those intwerted in the theory of the subiect as well as t o t h e practical worker. Purmsn's
A diagrammatic on-% conversion chart for 23 indicators, together with their color is laundin the appendix' In spite of other works oo the subject, "INDICATORS'iir so complete, so up-to-date, so understandable, t h a t i t is hound t o be very greatly in demand. MALCOLMM. H A R ~ N G Research i n Progress a t the University of Minnesota, July, 1924-July, 1925. Compiled by CLARENCO M. JACRSON, M.S., M.D., L1.D.
